Affordable Vegan Skincare That Doesn’t Scrimp On Quality: NEW From Champney’s & Why This Is Such A Growing Trend

I adore skincare. From the feeling of massaging a delicately fragranced cream into my skin, to treating myself with an intensely hydrating mask, or the simple motion of cleansing away my makeup at the end of the day – for me, it evokes emotions and a feeling of relaxation like nothing else. You can be totally selfish when it comes to your skincare regime, spending what you like on nothing other than looking after yourself and ensuring you feel good: that’s something I’m totally here for. There’s no need to spend a small fortune or invest in crazy ingredients, sometimes it’s simply a great regime and dedication to the cause that will deliver the best results, but increasingly vegan skincare is having a moment and seeing its popularity surge.

Driven by wider lifestyle factors and an increase in vegan / vegetarian / dairy free diets, it seems that we’re more interested in products that deliver those same values than ever before. Historically vegan (like organic and ‘natural’ before it) skincare meant gloopy, ineffective, unstable and often residue-heavy products that couldn’t compete with their more scientific and animal-based counterparts – but over the last couple of years technology has evolved so much that it’s now more possible than ever to deliver 100% vegan skincare without compromising on efficacy or pleasure.

Sales of vegan beauty products have increased around 38% in the last year, and even though beauty skincare products account for only around 1% of the total market they’re growing exponentially when compared with the rest of the industry. It seems that collectively us consumers are becoming more concious of the ethos and values behind the brands and products we buy, focusing on finding those that can help without offering potentially negative consequences. Just as recycling has become a way of life and we now take our own carrier bags to the supermarket, choosing to live more ethcially is a very real choice for many.

Although I’m not a vegan and I don’t consciously buy into a vegan lifestyle, I am intolerant to dairy and so am incredibly grateful for the wave of vegan friendly options now available in every supermarket, coffee shop and restaurant. What started with food is now transitioning into the beauty and fashion market, with many celebrities and influencers speaking out about the choices they’re making. With the increase of campaigns such as Veganuary and Meat Free Monday alongside the awareness of animal welfare in the food industry, its no surprise this passion and interest is spilling over into new areas.

What I’m loving seeing is some unexpected brands announcing their cruelty-free and vegan-friendly credentials, including spa brand Champney’s. Well known for their luxury escapes and wellbeing expertise, this July they’re launching a brand new seven piece skincare collection that delivers everything you need to look after your complexion from the comfort of your own home. They actually use these products within treatments at the spa, so you know you’re getting really efficacious products that are just as luxurious as more established brands that are three times the price – because everything in the range is priced between £14.00 and £23.00.

Free from suphates, parabens and synthetic fragrances, the range consists of a day and night cream, eye gel, facial exfoliator, overnight face mask, cleanser and toner. All the products feature the delicate and beautifully British scents of rose, bergamot, lavender, rosemary and blue chamomile to nod to the Champney’s heritage while transporting you to a place of calm; they’ve been developed to deliver great skin results without over complicating the process, helping to hydrate and treat with ease. Here’s a quick breakdown of what they have on offer…

DAY CREAM (£23.00) A lightweight and quickly absorbing cream, this features apricot and shea butter alongside rose and bergamot to hydrate and balance skin. It’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t block pores, but leaves skin feeling supple and fresh.

NIGHT CREAM (£23.00) Rich without being heavy, this is actually lighter than most night creams; the inclusion of borage and shea butter boost hydration as you sleep, while anti-oxidants lavender and rosemary protect your skin from free radicals. With a strong scent of lavender, this is also great for getting you in the mood for bed.

EYE GEL (£15.00) Cooling and refreshing, this lightweight gel almost transforms into water on the skin; the addition of blue chamomile and aloe gently helps to firm the skin’s appearance, whilst guarana reduces dark circles and puffiness. It smells unexpected, but I love it.

FACIAL EXFOLIATOR (£15.00) Although the bottle is a bit stingy in size, the formula is really creamy on the skin and doesn’t feel too harsh; I’m always cautious about granule-based exfoliators as they can often do more damage than good, but the pumice in this is gentle. The formula also includes Vitamin E and shea butter to nourish skin as you exfoliate.

OVERNIGHT FACE MASK (£18.00) Essentially a more intense and richer version of the night cream, this is beautifully fragranced with rose and lavender to leave you feeling ready to slip between the sheets. It’s a great base product that you can mix with oils and treatments, but alone I don’t feel it exactly transforms my skin.

CLEANSER (£14.00) I’m a bit of a cleansing snob, but this is perfectly pleasant to use every day as a first cleanse – or even in the shower. Sweet almond draws out impurities from deep within the skin, whilst rose and bergamot freshen and protect; the result is a clear complexion and supple skin, without any feeling of dryness. Bonus points for their being no mineral oil either.

TONER (£14.00) Great to use after cleansing as a way of rebalancing the skin’s pH and preparing it for the next step in your skincare regime, this is a great addition to any bathroom. The addition of rose and bergamot help to refine pores and ensure a healthy looking base, while smelling rather good too.

All in all this is a great little range that includes all the essentials with minimal faff; I love the fact it’s suited to everybody and is all about great skin texture, providing us with the option of adding in targeted treatments or products to boost the performance. Whether you’re actively choosing to lead a vegan lifestyle or just make better choices, this line-up of affordable skincare could be just the ticket. It’s great to see so many more vegan alternatives, reflecting the cultural change we’re seeing everywhere else. I may not be giving up bacon sandwiches just yet, but I’m totally on-board with this range.

What are your thoughts on vegan beauty?

Buy the Champney’s skincare range exclusively online or via one of their spas, priced £14.00-£23.00.

5 Comments

Anca

July 11, 2018 / 5:56 am

I'm vegetarian, but when I comes to skincare I love having vegan options. There are a few animal-based ingredients I don't mind in cosmetics, like lanolin, but not others, so I would rather buy vegan instead of going through the ingredients list while trying to understand what each thing is.I haven't tried the Champney range, but I think I will.

I know what you mean – the vegan stamp means you don't have to worry or read a long list of things. I can't have dairy, so I'm loving the fact there are so many vegan options that mean I can just pick it up without a second glance.